Alexandrine of Prussia, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Alexandrine of Prussia
Portrait c. 1825 by Friedrich Wilhelm Schadow of the Grand Duchess and two of her children, Frederick Francis and Louise
Grand Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Tenure1 February 1837 – 7 March 1842
Born(1803-02-23)23 February 1803
Berlin, Prussia
Died21 April 1892(1892-04-21) (aged 89)
Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin
SpousePaul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
IssueFrederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Louise, Hereditary Princess of Windisch-Graetz
Duke William
Names
Friederike Wilhelmine Alexandrine Marie Helene
HouseHohenzollern
FatherFrederick William III of Prussia
MotherLouise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Alexandrine of Prussia (Friederike Wilhelmine Alexandrine Marie Helene; 23 February 1803 – 21 April 1892) was Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin by marriage to Grand Duke Paul Frederick. She was the daughter of Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Born on 23 February 1803 in Prussia, Alexandrine was the seventh child and fourth daughter of King Frederick William III of Prussia and Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Grand Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Schwerin[edit]

On 25 May 1822, after rejecting a marriage proposal from the future King of Sweden,[1] she married Paul Frederick of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. In 1837, Paul Frederick succeeded his grandfather as Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, making Alexandrine the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

The marriage was generally considered unhappy;[1] Paul Frederick was a military man who had little time for or interest in his wife and family. Alexandrine, by contrast, was a devoted mother who tenderly raised her children and actively cultivated their cultural pursuits. Alexandrine herself was very cultured but was also described as a stereotypically-remote German princess. She was not considered an intellectual but attended scholarly lectures and read many books.[citation needed]

Death[edit]

On 21 April 1892 in Schwerin, Alexandrine died at the age of 89. She was buried at the Cathedral of Schwerin.

At the time of her death, she was the last surviving grandchild of King Frederick William II of Prussia. She outlived all three of her children and would die in the reign of her grandson, Grand Duke Frederick Francis III.

Issue[edit]

Ancestry[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Scott (24 January 2018). "Alexandrine of Prussia, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin". Unofficial Royalty. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
Alexandrine of Prussia, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Born: 23 February 1803 Died: 21 April 1892
German royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
as Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Grand Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
1 February 1837 – 7 March 1842
Vacant
Title next held by
Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz